Boar Cleanings

[SiLamb]

So I need some help here.  I've just learned about boar cleanings.  I've not done it for either Harry or Weasley.  I googled it and came across this site  and it instructed that I should be doing three things for them that I haven't been doing
1. Clean the anal sac
2. Clean the penis
3. Check the grease gland

Okay everyone...please share your knowledge on this subject.  I'm all ears.  Should I be doing these things?

[faafaa]

The anal sack and penis should be cleaned. Hay and hair can get lodged into the anal sack and stuck around the penis. The last time I cleaned Henry he had hair from Murphy wrapped around his penis so tight I had a hard time getting it off. I'm happy that I found it, who knows what may have happened. I know there are others that can explain the how-to and the whys way better than I can. All I know is that I don't want my boy to get something stuck where it shouldn't be to cause him harm. I would love someone to chime in with how often a boar cleaning should be done too. I haven't read anything about the grease gland though. Great topic SiLamb!

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[Bean]

Josh tends to stay clean so although I check him (just to make sure he doesn't have anything stuck) I've never needed to do anything. But Cadders gets stuff stuck in his sack and it sticks to the wall - I have to sit for a while with my cotton buds (q-tips) and coconut oil (you can use any edible oil) and work free the lump of poo and hair very gently. It honks!

I've had older boys suffer with impaction where they get big balls of poo (and other grim substances) stuck in their bottoms. That needs to be kept on top of pretty regularly to keep them healthy or it interferes with them eating their special poos.

If you look at the base of the spine, you'll find the grease gland (here's a link to a bit more info). I've had a couple of pigs who got pretty dirty here (again, I've found it more common as they get older) but in general it's not something I meddle with.

[3piggles]

Excellent information! It is a main boar issue.

[SiLamb]

Well you guys are going to laugh your face off...

I decided that I was past due in doing the boar cleanings on Harry & Weasley today.  To prep me, I re-read the posts that you all wrote and on the site links.  I then watched a YouTube video on it.  You should have seen hubby's face when he saw what I was going to do to the boys.  Being a boy himself, I think he was extra sympathetic for them.  

I started with Weasley...I got his anal sac cleaned and the Q-tips came out clean. I then did the penis cleaning.  Least to say I was surprised by how big it was.  This looked also clean.  Overall uneventful (except for trying to get hubby to stop laughing and hold Weasley still...his sympathy kept kicking in and he would snuggle him instead of holding him to where I could examine him...it really was sweet)

Then came Harry and the panic...I got his anal sac cleaned.  There was just a little bit of smelly stuff that I got out.  I then did the penis cleaning but no penis came out.  I tried and tried and tried...then hubby and I looked at each other and were like, "Is Harry actually Harriet???"  Then I was urgently searching the internet to see what sow genitalia looks like.  Then we looked at Harry and I was like, "I think he is a boar, but  why isn't a penis coming out?"  Searched online some more.  Hubby starts thinking that "Harriet" is pregnant and I'm thinking that I have to go to the vet tomorrow.  I decided to try looking for a penis one more time.  HALLELUJAH!  Harry is indeed a boy.  His penis joined the party.  I cleaned it up as well, but I didn't see any dirt.


Notes: I used olive oil since Bean said any edible oil could be used and I didn't have mineral oil.  Didn't attempt the gland examination/cleaning.  Boys were traumatized enough without adding another thing.  I figured since they are young, that I could wait to add that part.  I also clipped their toe nails while I was at it.  Since they were so stressed out, I gave them another dose of Vit. C 

[faafaa]

"His penis joined the party"

Hahaha oh my! Glad it wasn't too terrible...

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[Bean]

Aug 24, 2014 21:46:50 GMT SiLamb said:

I then did the penis cleaning.  Least to say I was surprised by how big it was.

Now that's just boasting!

You've had a good initiation ceremony and next time you might find that you can just do a quick look over and only get your supplies out if necessary. Most times I do a quick check (as I'm taking them out for laptime) and if anything needs doing, it's quite obvious. Glad you found Harry's dongle too haha! You'll be a penis professional in no time.

[SiLamb]

LOL

Bean, is it obvious in black butts as well as white ones? Weasley has a black but and Harry has a white/pink one. I can see how it might be obvious on the white/pink one, but I'm not sure about the black ones.

The boys must have been more traumatized by the boar cleanings that I had hoped. Once I got them back in Hogwarts, they ran and hid every time I came near. I decided that boar cleaning day is carrot day. I have mostly removed carrots from their daily diet, but I used to give them quite a bit. I figured that I can give them close to the amount of carrots that I used to give them on these days since that is their all time favorite.
So I could get them out of their hidies to get the carrot bits but Harry would go in reverse right back into a hidie. It was like he refused to have his butt anywhere near me. This morning they are still a little skittish but not as bad at first. I hope that this isn't the memory that they think off when they see me in 2 1/2 weeks. I only have 23 hours till I have to leave for my trip. Hopefully, I can get them to not be so afraid of me before I go.

Everyone, how have your boars reacted the first time you did it to them? How long did it take them to not be so traumatized?

[Bean]

Cadders has a very dark bottom but I can tell right away if something needs doing! It's just having a trained eye, it'll come with time I expect!

If I've had to do a clean, I give them a treat on my lap right after so we end on a high - I can't recall any of them being especially traumatised by it, but it's safe to say all who have had it done are very glad when it's over and they can retreat to a safe place where their bits will be left alone!

[3piggles]

I don't recall Zippy or Dallas being traumatized, but I spent so much time with them, we usually went from bath/cleaning, to snuggling in a towel on a heating pad where they fell asleep, to treats, and off again. No time to be traumatized, now that I think of it

Bean's right. You'll get used to what looks normal and what doesn't, and only have to do a bit of cleaning if there's a problem. Carrot treats never hurt

[cookie72]

Yowza...All this penis cleaning talk is making me happy I ended up with just girls!!

[Bean]

Haha! When I had girls I used to be entertained by their bulls eye style weeing - if someone came up behind them and they weren't happy about it (be it a pesky boar or another girl trying to pinch their dandelion) they'd just buck their back end and deliver a jet of wee right in the middle of their eyes!

[ayemee]

Jackson was always getting mucky down there, where as Brillo was always super clean!
SiLamb your posts on this gave me a little giggle!

[3piggles]

Oh yes! The bullseye pee spray, lol! Super effective

[jolovespiggies]

Thanks for a great post hun, made me laugh! I am lucky with my two, they stay very clean.

Hugs
Jo xx

[SiLamb]

bullseye peeing? Wow, I had no idea that they did that. That's hilarious!!

[Bean]

The face of the one who got sprayed would be a picture - they'd shake themselves off and then start cleaning it off, meanwhile the girl who was previously getting bothered would be off enjoying a bit of peace and quiet!

[cookie72]

I've never seen my girls do the bullseye pee thing...I didn't know that was possible!! Bedhead does seem to pee with some force though, there are times when I'm cleaning her cage I can hear her pee stream shooting out even though I can't see it. I guess I should consider myself lucky that pee has never been aimed at me!

[3piggles]

The pee only seems to be between pigs, which is good. I would not like to get blasted

[jolovespiggies]

Wouldn't that be a great one for "You've Been Framed" lol?

Hugs
jO XX